Cableway & Technology, Cities
Cable car model urgently needs shelter
Supported by Doppelmayr as the main sponsor and the company fischertechnik, 25 model builders spent over 6,500 volunteer hours using nearly 100,000 building blocks to construct the largest and most complex fischertechnik model in the world. The result is a fully functional replica of a monocable gondola lift at a 1:10 scale.
Hundreds of meters of cable, dozens of microcontrollers running thousands of lines of code, countless profile rails, and a vast amount of wood were used to create a model like no other before.
And it’s aiming for even more records. Dozens of videos — some with impressive reach — along with numerous publications have brought the model into the spotlight, making it both a public attraction and an appealing opportunity for sponsors.
Background
The project — a 10-MGD-R2 monocable gondola based on Doppelmayr technology with CWA OMEGA-V cabins — was launched in 2019 with the goal of building a fully functional cable car system out of fischertechnik. Its mission: to travel the world as an ambassador for urban cable transport.
To achieve this, the model was equipped with an original control desk from Doppelmayr and features emulated software corresponding to real-world systems. It also includes safety features modeled after the real installation.
The grip clamps secure up to 16 gondolas on a Fatzer cable and span a horizontal distance of up to 30 meters, with the tallest tower reaching up to 5.20 meters. The model also features a working drive and tension carriage, door opening mechanisms, and many other original features.
The highlight: the mountain station / return terminal is mounted on a frame that allows visitors to view the system from below — to stand underneath the illuminated station and observe the technology from a unique, subjective perspective.
The project team has also developed a complete workshop setup (on pallets), the control desk, themed decorations, a fully labeled and text-supported exhibition, and prepared guided tours.
No Home After the End of June
Until now, the model has been housed at the Fördertechnik Museum in Sinsheim, which generously provided space and workshop access to the cable car enthusiasts.
“Just recently, we were informed that the museum space is being repurposed for a different exhibition, and we must remove the model by June 30, 2025. This hits us hard. We’re now without a home,” says Tilo Rust, project manager of the ft.seilbahn initiative.
Despite intensive outreach to several museums, the team of tech enthusiasts has so far been unable to secure a new location where they can exhibit, complete, or at least store the model.
Yet from the beginning, the project was designed with mobility in mind. All parts are securely packed in transport boxes and can be loaded onto a truck using lift equipment. Every component is mounted on Euro pallets or matches those dimensions. The entire model is currently packed and ready for pickup.
The team can fully set up the installation within eight hours and dismantle and pack it within six — making it exceptionally well-prepared for relocation.
Fully Functional
The model is equipped with an original control desk from Doppelmayr and runs on emulated software that mirrors real-world operations.
Desperate Call for Help
The model builders are reaching out to the cable car community, museums, city administrations, sponsors, and supporters, says Rust:
“Please help us save this project! It can serve as a communication platform in showrooms for planned (urban) cable car projects or in the reception areas of city administrations considering cable car solutions. Whether in the forum of a large company or at a university — our model could be an eye-catcher and a magnet for your visitors, if together we manage to preserve this gigantic project.”
To get an impression of the project, Rust recommends watching the videos on their YouTube channel. He can also provide dozens of photos, technical drawings, and answer any questions.
The tech enthusiasts offer the model free of charge for exhibitions. They can display it in eleven different variants — from the smallest area of about 8.5 x 3 meters up to the full version measuring approximately 42 meters in length.
“All we need is some space and the possibility to continue working on the model from time to time. We can also host guided tours and exhibitions tailored to your needs and introduce your visitors to the fascination of cable cars, model building, and fischertechnik,” says Rust.
Alternatively, storage space large enough for 20 Euro pallets — dry and protected from the weather — would be helpful. The model builders are also seeking logistical support: a company that can handle or finance transport by truck from Sinsheim to the future location.
Exhibition Highlights
At the Cable Car World 2024 congress fair in Essen, the model—commissioned by the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW)—was at the center of many engaging discussions. In 2023, the model was showcased at BUGA23 in Mannheim, where this very type of cable car connected the park areas. Thousands of visitors were introduced to the technology and economics of cable cars through over 1,100 volunteer hours and countless guided tours.
Not Much Time Left
The model builders urgently need support as soon as possible — essentially, today. Whether it’s just for a few weeks or, ideally, for a longer period of months or even years, that decision is up to those who step forward to help.
The fact is: the model must leave the museum by the end of the month, and the volunteers still have no solution. Anyone who can assist them now is asked to get in touch immediately, says Rust:
“This is my desperate call for help, personal and at the limit of our private capacity. Please don’t let our vision and commitment over all these years and thousands of working hours go to waste.”
Contact
Tilo Rust
Project Manager, ft.seilbahn-Projekt
E-Mail: ft.seilbahn@gmail.com
Phone: +49 (0)6235-457300
Mobil: +49 (0)1743221799
